Road to Morocco

 The Flames are hoping for a dream start of TotalEnergies 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign as they host Burundi Swallows this afternoon at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Pooled in Group L Teranga, Burkina Faso Stallions and the Swallows, the bitter truth is that the path to the final will be very narrow. alongside Senegal’s Lions of

With two top teams set to book a place in the final to be held in Morocco next year, Fifa highly ranked Lions of Teranga, who are 19th in the world and the Stallions on position 67, are favourites while the Flames (126) and Swallows (139) have to sweat blood to outwit he West African giants.

The West African sides are regulars at the Afcon finals while the Flames have been there three times in 1984, 2010 and in 2022.

The Swallows, on the other hand, made it to Afcon for the first time in 2019 after finishing second in their group below leaders Mali.

Malawi and Burundi have never faced each other in a competitive match. They only had a friendly in 1987 which ended in a one-all draw.

Over the years the two sides have undergone transformation which makes this afternoon’s match unpredictable.

Swallows current squad has some Europe-based stars that coach Étienne Ndayiragijie is expected to throw into the deep end.

Belgium-based duo of Aladini Bizimana and Rukundo Abdulrahmano who turns up for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Yusuf Ndayishimiye for OGE Nice, France, Frederik Nsabiyumva of Västerås SK, Sweden, Tresor Mossi of Sumgayit FK, Azerbaijani, Jordi Liongola of RAAL La Louviere, Belgium and Kanakimana Binvenue of FK Jablonec, Czech form the Swallows’ spine.

The Flames foreign-based legion comprises Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma, who recently signed for TP Mazembe of Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique-based duo of midfielder John ‘CJ’ Banda of UD Songo and Costa do Sol midfielder Yamikani Chester, Zambia contingent of Robert Saizi and Chawanangwa Kaonga of Zanaco and Kabwe Warriors’ Chifundo Mphasi as well as Iraq- based Al-Qassi defender Dennis Chembezi.

Mabedi has blended the foreign-based players with locals who have been regulars in his squad.

Despite some preparations hiccups, the coach said his charges will go flat out to collect maximum points.

Mabedi said: “We just need to go and do what we are supposed to do. So far, so good. I think the response was good and mentally they are also motivated.”

He, however, said they know their opponent is not a pushover .

On his part, Flames captain John Banda said the players are geared up for the match.

He said: “Every player is looking forward to these two games. We know that it won’t be easy, but we know how important it is to be at the finals in Morocco.”

After the Burundi match, Malawi will fly to Bamako, Mali Friday for their second Group L qualifier against The Stallions of Burkina Faso